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2005/C 311/01
Section 1.7.1 of The Hague Programme of 2004 required the Commission and the Council to collaborate on a plan for the development
of common standards, best practices and mechanisms to prevent and combat human trafficking.
The plan was finalised in 2005 and addresses all forms of global trafficking. It adopts an integrated human rights approach
and in particular focuses on the protection and assistance of the victims of human trafficking. The report states that women
and children are the most vulnerable groups and thus in order to ensure their protection, specific strategies and measures
must be implemented.
The Action plan demands that the Member States swiftly transpose Directive 2004/81/EG (on the residence permit issued to third-country
nationals who are victims of human trafficking or who have been the subject of illegal immigration and who co-operate with
the competent authorities) into their domestic laws and national strategies. Such strategies include for example: The criminalisation
of human trafficking, the consideration of legally binding instruments, political commitments and other relevant documents,
in particular the ratification of the European Councils Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.
In order to make this increasing form of organised crime a high risk - low reward one the Action Plan highlights certain preventative
measures. These include both the provision of adequate protection and assistance for the victims of such trafficking, as well
as effective law enforcement which includes the training of specialized personnel. Co-operation amongst the Member States,
the police and relevant organisations is vital. It is also important that efforts be made to integrate victims into their
new society. Furthermore, the Council and the Commission should co-operate together to ensure that the importance of regular
monitoring is promoted. Special attention must be given to measures which will aid in the identification of victims. Thus,
for example seminars and training will be given not only to the police and immigration officials but also to different organisations,
such as the airline industry, as well.
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